Practice-keyboard apparatus.



. A. L. WHITE. `PRACTICE yKEYBOARD APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 47. 1910.

y Patented .15.11.25, 1916.k

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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IE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co HI-TE.

yPRACTICE KEYBUA'RD APPARATUS. APPLICATIKON FILED Dac. 7, 1910.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916,

I M 6W 'rma COLUMBIA PLANomz/ul Co., wAslllNmoN. n. c.

lA. L.WH1TE.

PRACTICE KEYBOARD APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F-ILEB DEC- 7. 1910- l 1,169,586. n y l Patented 111.25, 1916.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ,j/y y* Z716 ,2Q

EZ 612 613 65A v 77557365/56/5, Z Ez 5676502 A. L. WHITE. PRACTICE KEYBOARD APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, I9I0.

Patented Jan. 25,l 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

`of Fig. 2; Fig.

from place UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBI-infr L. WHITE, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

PRACTICE-KEYBOARD APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application field December 7, 1910. Serial No. 596,020.

To all lwhom t may concern.'

' Be it known that L'ALBER'I L. VVHIIE, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, havev invented a Vcertain new and useful Tinproveinen't in 'Practice-Keyboard 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view with' the parts collapsed and the casing closed,

ready for transportation; Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenpn-line L--l'ofFig 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional viewl takenon line 6 is a view showing the operating mechanism for the tip-click; Fig. 7 is a sectional view `taken Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional viewtaken on line 8-8 of Fig. :2; Fig. 9 is a view showing the actuating springs for the bellows. Like numerals vrefer to Y like throughout the several figures.

This invention relates particularly to a practice device for pianists. The device is arranged so that it can be easily transported to place, so that it can be used by persons while traveling in order that they may keep in practice.V Referring, now, to the` drawings, the device is inclosed vin a collapsible casing 1,`the lower part 2 of which-is hinged at 3 and is removably attached to the upper part by the hooks 4. yA cover is hinged at`6 to the casing so that it maybe moved out of the parts way to expose the keys. Within the casing are a series of keys 7 and 8 similar to piano keys. The keys 7 may be `arranged in position in any `desired manner. As herein shown the keys 7 are pivoted upon the pins 9, and the keys 8 are pivoted upon the pins 10. said pins being carried by the piece or balance rail 11 mounted upon the support 1'2. The front endsof the keys are provided with guides 13. Some means is provided for returning the kevs to their normal position after being pressed down b v the fingers of the operator. As herein shown each key'is provided with a retracting spring 14:, said on line 7-7 ofV springs being connected with a longitudinal supporting'piece 15. A limiting device 1G Aisprovided for limiting this return movement. Near the end of each key there is preferably provided avcoil spring 17 which yis adapted to engage a rail 18 which produces -an increased resistance springs as the rear moved up in response in these 'ends of the keys are to the touch of the operator. The springs 17 are preferablyarranged so that their ends do not touch the compressing device when the keys are in their normal position. It will bel noted that by means ofV this construction the downward movement of the front ends of the keys is resisted by a gradually increasing resistance due to these'springs, thus securing an action approximating that of a piano so as to give the operator the same benefit secured by practising on the'pi'ano.

Means is provided for varying the action of the instrument, that is, for increasing or decreasing the force required to manipulate the keys, so that between certain ranges any desiredv action may be secured. As herein shownthe keys `are provided at their rear ends with the springs 19, the upper ends of which are free. As the rear ends of the keys move up these springs are adapted to engage va resisting device 20. This resisting device as shown in the drawings consists of a movable piece extending across the keys and mounted in suitable guides 21 in the frame. This resisting device preferably has a curved face at the points where the springs 19 make contact therewith, this curved face being preferably covered-with a soft covering 22.

VIt will be seen that by moving the resisting device 2O toward the springs 19 the resistance to the upward movement of the rear ends of the keys will be increased, and that by moving said resisting device vraway from said springs this resistance will be decreased.

`The movement of the resisting device as herein shown is secured by means of an actuatingpart 23. This actuating part consists of a cam device pivotedat 24 and having its cam face engaging the resisting device 20 so that when moved about its face this resisting device may be moved back and forward. Some anti-friction construction is preferably provided, as, for example, by providing therollers 25' at the contact face of the parts. Suitable retracting springs 26 retract the resisting device. These springs 26 also have another function. It will be Patented J an. 25, 1916.

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noted that the cam 23 engages the resisting device near its middle, and hence the resisting device is liable to be moved forward unevcnly, thus acting on some of the springs and not the others. The springs 26 insure an even forward movement of the resisting device. A controlling handle 27 is connected with the actuating part Q3 and projects through a slot 23 in the wall 29 so that the end thereof is in position to be easily manipulated by the operator. This handle is preferably movably connected with the actuating part so that it may be lengthened when it is desired to move the actuating part in order to secure a proper lever arm, and may then be pushed back out of the way. This result is secured by providing the part 27 with the slot 30, through which pass the pins 3l connected with the actuating part. There is preferably associated with the slot 28 a scale, as shown, tl e ligures thereon indieating the degree of resistance olfered by the resisting device when the controlling handle is moved opposite to said ligures, thus permitting the operator to easily and quickly regulate this resistance as desired.

Means are provided for producing a clicking sound both when the keys are pressedfi down by the operator and when they returnigfto their normal position after being releasedl4 These devices I have termed the up andf.; down clicks. The down click consists of all movable piece 32. This movable piece ist hinged, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it may," be moved to an operative or an inoperative position. As herein shown the movable piece is controlled by means of a handle 33,-pivoted between its ends and located at one end of the key-board, said handle being connected to the movable piece 3:2 by means of the link 34. Vhen the handle 33 is moved so as to set the movable piece 32 upon its et ge, as shown in Fig. 2, the keys when actuated will strike the movable piece 32 making a clicking noise. This clicking noise indi! cates the proper operation of the keys by the operator. lVhen the part 32 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 it is in its inoperative position and there will be no clicking noise when the keys are pressed down. The 'up-click comprises a bar 35 located near the rear end of the keys and ar 'anged so that it may be raised into a position to be struck by the keys when they are released by the operator, thus producing a clicking sound. This bar may be actuated in any desired manner. As herein shown it is supported upon a sliding piece 36 which slides upon wedges 37 when moved in one direction, so as to lift the bar 35 to its operative position. When the piece 3G is slid in the other direction it drops down over these wedges and lowers the bar. An adjustable limiting device 3S is arranged for limiting the upward movement of the bar As herein shown the sliding piece 36 is actuated by means of a handle 39 pivoted between its ends, similar to the handle 33, and having its lower end connected with a rod Ll0 (see Fig. :3). This .rod A/l-O is connected to the curved arm fil-l pivoted at 4t2 (see Fig. G), said arm being con nected with the sliding piece 3G. The bar 35 and sliding piece 3U are located between guides 43. The up click, in addition to other uses, may be used to indicate to the operator the simultaneous movement of different keys in opposite directions. It, for example, one key should be released and another pressed down simultaneously, this simultaneous movement will be indicated when the up and down clicks come together, so that there will be only one click heard. lVhen the operator desires to use the machine where the clicks would be objectionable, they may both be rendered inoperative.

This device may be arranged so that the Aproper musical tcnes may be produced when .the keys are depressed. For this purpose JIT have shown an organ construction. Each key is `provided with its proper reeds lill, as sociated with the openings l5 controlled by the valve elG, normally held in place by the spring 47. Associated with each key is a pin ll-S which presses down its associated valve so as to open it. The reeds are made to vibrate by a current of air drawn through the openings -l by suitable bellows. As `herein shown there are two reeds for each key. One set of reeds is provided with a 'suitable mute. The mute -l9 at the front of the apparatus is hinged at the top, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is held in its operative position by one or more springs 50. This mute is opened by means of a lever 51, adapted to be actuated by the knee of the operator. This lever' has a part 52 rotatably mounted in the bracket 53, the end being provided with a crank 54 to which is connected a cord 55 attached to one end of the bell crank lever of this bell crank lever is connected to the mute 4.9 by the piece 5l. By a movement of the knee, therefore, this mute may be controlled so as to control the volume of the sound. There is a swell 5S at the back of the device (see Figs. 2 and 3). The swell 58 is controlled by the lever 59 through the agency of the knee of the operator. This lever is provided with a crank 60 to which is connected a cord 6l (see Figs. l and Ll). The cord 6l is connected to the crank (S2 on the shaft 63. This shaft is also provided with a crank Gil which engages a projection connected with the swell 58. It will thus be seen that when the lever 59 is moved by the knee, the shaft G3 will be rotated so as to lift the swell 53. Connected with the swell 53 by one or more rods GG is a hinged door 67 at theback of the casing. By means of this connection this door will 56. The other end ible valve 7 yA spring 76 tends to normally 'be opened when' the swell is lifted, soas which has openings 71 controlled by theA flexible valve 72. The part 70 has a hin-ged connection with the part 73,which'is also provided with holes 7 t controlled by a flexmovc the parts 70 and 73 toward eachother.

YThe parts 70 and 73 are connected by' a suitable web 77, while the part 73 is connected with the part178 by a similar web 79. Aspring 80 tends to separate theparts 7 3 and 7 8. The part'73 is hinged and preferably extends entirely across the device,

ibut there are two parts 70,y oneconnected with the pedal 68, and the other connected withthe pedal 8l, so that they canibe alternately moved. In the operation of the device when the pedals are moved down, the

parts 7 0 are separatedfrom the part 73 and air yis drawn through the j holes 7 4, this movement causing the valve 72 to close, and the valve 75 to open.` When the pedal-is released the spring 76 moves it back', the valve 75 being nowclosed and the airbetween the parts 73 and 70 escaping through the openings 71. As the air is drawn frcin between the parts 7 3 and 78 the part 73 tends to collapse, a partial vacuum being produced. 1f, now, a key is pressed', so as to open one of thervalves 46, air `will be drawn through the openings l5 so as to vibrate the reeds and produce the musical tone corresponding to such key. A Y

The entire device may be folded up, as shown in Fig. 3, whenit is desired to transport it from place to place." rhe bottom 2 of the casingis hinged at 3 and when the device is in use stands in a vertical position, as

vois

shown in Fig. 2. The deviceis provided with the Jfolding legs 84 and185. Each of these folding legs consists of a rectangular frame hinged tothe casing by the hinges 86. lVhentlie device is ready for operation, as'shown in Figs. l and`2, the legs vSl and 85 are connected by a cross piece 37. This cross piece is removably connected with the legs in any desired manner. As herein shown each end of the cross piece is provided with a metal piece 88.

braces are fastened to the cross piece 87 (see n Each leg is ,provided with a loop 89 having a branch 90 Fig. 8). -The bottom 2 of the easing is providedwith hooks l91 which are hooked into eyelets connected with the legs. The pedals 68-and Sl are pivotally connected with the cross-'piece S7. When it is desired to fold the device, the bellows are moved so that the engaging part9 'slips over thev hook 96 so as to hold the bellows in a collapsed position. The cross piece 87 is then disconnected from the legs and the braces92 bent by moving the pivotal points upwardly.

,This movement turns lthe pedals upside downand thepedals are then foldediip vagainst :the bellowsf(see Fig. 3). 'l he two pedals-when folded are inthe same plane and arejlocated side by side. The legs/84 and 85 are thendisconnected from the botvtcm 2 and are moved about their `hinges so as to be folded up under theV pedals.v .One of the legs--thek leg 85-is hinged higher up` than the other, a distance equal to the thickness of theleg, so that the two legs will fit snugly one under the other, as shown in Fig. 3. The bottom 2 is then folded upan'd is connected to the upperpart `by the hooks 4. The cover is also folded Vdown and locked in position by the hooks, and the device is then ready for transportation. It can be carried around like a valise by means of the handles 97. When the device is to be operated, the parts are unfolded and placed in position,`as shown in Figs. l and 2. The bottom 2 of the casing is provided at one end with a projecting part or lip 98, cut away at each end so as to leave a free space at each end. 1n other words. this lip is shorter than the bottom piece 2 and .passes between the legs 84: and 85 when the casing it will be seen that the legs are firmly held in position and movement or rocking thereof prevented. T he springs 76 are provided at one end with the coils 99 and are fastened in position at the ends having the coils. in

any desired manner, to the part 73. r1`he other ends of the springs are provided with laterally projecting engaging parts 101, which enga'gethe lower sides 70 of the bellows, kand normally tend to move them toward the part 73.

I claim: Y i

l. A practice keyboard device comprising series of keys, a spring connected with eachl of said keys and having a projecting part, a sliding bar engaging the projecting parts of said springs, guides for'said bar, a cam in proximity to said bar and when actuated moving it toward the projecting parts of said springs, and means separate from said cam, for insuring an equal forward movement of said bar throughout its length.

2. A practice keyboard device comprising a series of keys, a spring connected with each of said keys and having a projecting part, a sliding bar engaging the projecting parts of said springs, guides for said bai', a cam in proximity to said bar and when actuated moving it toward the projecting parts of said springs, and means separate from said cam, for insuring an equal forward movement of said bar throughout its length, said bar and cam being in the same horizontal plane, and a series of rollers through which the pressure due to the movement of the cam is transmitted to the bar.

3. A practice key-board device comprising a series of keys, a resisting part adapted Vwhen in predetermined positions to resist the movement of said keys in varying de.- grees, a cam piece in proximity to said resisting part and when actuated, moving it to various positions, a handle connected with said cam piece and projecting Within reach oi the operator, and a scale along which said handle is adapted to be moved, said handle adjustably connected with the cam piece whereby the distance it projects therefrom may be varied.

et. A practice key-board device comprising a series of keys, a resisting part adapted Copies when in predetermined positions to resist `the movement ot' said keys in varying degrees, a cam piece in proximity to said resisting part and when actuated, moving the resisting part to various positions, tivo retracting springs connected with said resisting part, one on each side of said cani piece, said springs adapted to keep the resisting part in Contact with the engaging face of the cam piece.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 2nd day of December, A. D. 1910.

ALBERT WHITE.

7Witnesses:

Minnie M. LINDENAU, Enna K. REYNOLDS.

of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

